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lakeglance

WashingtonReservoir, 33,359 acres, Chelan County

Lake Chelan water level

Lake Chelan, Washington
Photo: David Ansley, CC BY 2.5

Current level

1,094.13ft above sea level

Reading from Oct 26, 2026

Near normal for October

Past 24 hours
-0.19ft
Past 7 days
-0.89ft
Past 30 days
-3.97ft
vs typical October
-2.22ft

Lake Chelan was at 1,094.13 ft on October 26, falling 0.89 ft over the past week. That is near normal for October: the typical October level is 1,096.35 ft, so the lake is 2.22 ft below its usual mark.

Last 30 days

109410961098typicalSep 24Oct 9Oct 24

Shaded band shows the lowest and highest October monthly averages on record. Dashed line is the typical October level.

Typical level through the year

Each bar spans the range of monthly averages on record for that month. The line marks the median. The orange dot is where the lake sits now.

108010901100JFMAMJJASOND

Recent daily readings

Lake Chelan daily mean water level, newest first
DateLevel (ft above sea level)Change
Oct 24, 20261,094.32-0.18
Oct 23, 20261,094.50-0.11
Oct 22, 20261,094.61-0.14
Oct 21, 20261,094.75-0.14
Oct 20, 20261,094.89-0.13
Oct 19, 20261,095.02-0.16
Oct 18, 20261,095.18-0.15
Oct 17, 20261,095.33-0.11
Oct 16, 20261,095.44-0.14
Oct 15, 20261,095.58-0.12
Oct 14, 20261,095.70-0.15
Oct 13, 20261,095.85-0.14
Oct 12, 20261,095.99-0.14
Oct 11, 20261,096.13-0.16

Reading these numbers

Readings are reservoir surface elevations in feet, as published by the U.S. Geological Survey. Compare them with ramp and dock elevations from the lake operator to judge whether a launch is usable.

Reservoir levels are managed. Operators lower them ahead of flood season, hold them for summer recreation, and draw them down for dam work. When the lake falls well below its usual level, shallow points and stumps start showing up in places that are normally safe.

High water brings its own problems: floating debris after storms, flooded docks and courtesy piers, and no-wake rules near flooded campgrounds. A quick look at the trend before you hitch up saves a wasted trip.

The gauge is listed by USGS as Lake Chelan at Chelan, WA. Wind can pile water up at one end of a big lake for a few hours, so short spikes on a windy day are normal.

Lake Chelan water level questions

What is the water level at Lake Chelan today?

Lake Chelan was at 1,094.13 ft on October 26, falling 0.89 ft over the past week. That is near normal for October: the typical October level is 1,096.35 ft, so the lake is 2.22 ft below its usual mark.

Is Lake Chelan high or low right now?

Compared with the long-term record for October, the lake is near normal. The October monthly average has ranged from 1,078.93 to 1,099.52 ft, with a typical value of 1,096.35 ft.

Is Lake Chelan rising or falling?

Over the last seven days the level has fallen (-0.89 ft), and it is -3.97 ft compared with 30 days ago.

Where does the Lake Chelan water level data come from?

From the U.S. Geological Survey, gauge 12452000 (Lake Chelan at Chelan, WA). USGS publishes provisional readings every 15 to 60 minutes; they can be revised later after quality checks.

How often is this page updated?

The page itself is rebuilt every day with the latest daily values, and the current reading refreshes straight from the USGS each time you open it.

Nearby lakes

If Chelan is blown out, these are the closest alternatives. Tap through for their water levels.